Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that Eastern China might be a potential source region of increased atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). To investigate this possibility, a field measurement was carried out from October to December 2017 for identifying the ambient concentration levels of representative trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), trifluorotrichloroethane (CFC-113), and tetrafluorodichloroethane (CFC-114) at the residential and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and industrial sites in Eastern China. The ambient mixing ratios of CFCs at residential sites were almost within 20% enhancements of the global background sites. The highest levels of CFCs were observed at the MSW landfill sites. Moreover, CFC-11 and CFC-113 concentrations at MSW landfill, which was in service, were two times higher than that at completed MSW landfill. Mean concentrations of 322 pptv for CFC-11, 791 pptv for CFC-12, 91 pptv for CFC-113, and 16 pptv for CFC-114 at various industrial sites were higher than those at residential sites, but they were obviously lower than that at MSW landfill in use. A poor intercorrelation between the CFCs indicated that they did not come from the same source. Higher concentrations measured in this study compared with background sites indicates that MSW landfills could be an unintentional emission source and there are still substantial amounts of CFCs being stored in banks that may discharge CFCs into the atmosphere in Eastern China.
Highlights
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are very stable anthropogenic compounds which contribute greatly to the stratospheric ozone depletion, becoming a global environmental concern [1]
Field samples were collected and analyzed in Eastern China, the potential CFC areas suggested by recent simulation studies
Typical areas with different functions were selected in this study
Summary
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are very stable anthropogenic compounds which contribute greatly to the stratospheric ozone depletion, becoming a global environmental concern [1]. The slowdown in the reduction of global trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11) concentration after 2012 was discovered with the reduction rate changing from −2.1 ± 0.3 ppt·year−1 to −1.0 ± 0.2 ppt·year−1 [8]. This transition differs from the possible changes in the release of CFC-11 from the reservoirs remaining in existing equipment and products (CFC “banks”) [8].
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